Spring-wire earring, ring, and the like



May 12, 1942. I E ER 2,282,336

SPRING'WIRE-EARRING, RING, AND THEjLIKE Filed May 10, 1940 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNE Y5 MrM Patented May 12, 1942 SPRHIG-WIRE EARRING, RING, AND THELIKE Maximilian C. Meyer, Brooklyn,N. Y.

Application May 10, 1940, SerialNo. 334,322

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a novel earring and the method of making thesame, and more particularly my invention relates to a simulated pearlspring earring having two pearls fixed at the extremities of the earringby a novel locking construction and my invention further relates to themethod of obtaining such locking construction.

I have found it extremely desirable in earrings that the construction besuch that the ear is grasped by the smooth ornamental object rather thanby a metal utilitarian gripping surface. In the case of pearl earrings,I have found great difiiculty in securing pearls to spring wire in sucha manner that a permanent and fixed joint between the pearls and thewire is obtained without impairing the properties of the pearl or of thewire. The spring wire must have sufficient resilience to firmly grip theear through the pearls fixed on the ends thereof. If it were attemptedto solder or fix the pearls to the wire by a heat treatment the springand the resilience of the wire would be diminished or lost. There is nopractical cement for effecting a suitable permanent joint between thepolished wire surface and the pearl. The nature of the spring wire issuch that a screw threaded surface cannot be imparted thereto to screwthe pearls into engagement therewith.

I have devised a novel construction and method by means of which I cansecurely and permanently fix ornamental objects such as pearls onto andover a spring wire. By pearl in the pressent invention, I mean simulatedpearls which are built up from suitable core material such as glass andwhich are subsequently coated with a pearl essence solution to give thedesired simulated pearl appearance.

The method of forming the locking construction will be more specificallyset forth hereinafter but generally it can be described as providing anopening having divergent side walls in the pearl into which is insertedthe extremity of a spring wire which has been bent into the form of ahook. This hook engages the divergent opening and is firmly lockedtherein against subsequent separation. By means of this lockingconstruction I am able to provide a novel earring which comprises aspring wire which acts both as a carrier for the pearls and also as ameans for imparting pressure to the pearls mounted on the ends thereoffor grasping the lobe of the car.

My novel earring comprises a plurality of pearls mounted on a wire thathas been curled into the form of a circle with the two extremities ofthe wire firmly mechanically locked into engagement with the pearlsmounted thereon. The earring is secured to the ear by pulling apart thespring wire and then releasing it so that the pearls locked in theextremities thereof contact the ear lobe in pressure contact.

It is the object of my invention to provide a novel earring comprisingornamental objects mounted on spring Wire.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel earring inwhich the ear is gripped by smooth ornamental objects mounted on aspring wire adapted to cause the objects to grip the ear firmly.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a new construction forlocking a pearl or similar object on to a spring wire.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a new method forforming a pearl with a divergent opening adapted to be engaged orsecured permanently on to a hooked wire.

These and other objects of my invention Will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the earrings of my invention inposition on the ear.

Figure 2 is a perspective showing a pipe with one end pinched to providea divergent shaped core member.

Figure 3 shows the pinched divergent core member with a bead orsimulated pearl base formed thereon.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation showing the insertion of thecore member with the bead formed thereon into an acid tank adapted toeat away or dissolve the core member.

Figure 5 is a cross section of the simulated pearl base after the corehas been dissolved out.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the spring wire base curled into loop formwith a hook at one end prior to the placing of the pearls thereon.

Figure 8 is a side elevational showing of the spring Wire with thepearls mounted thereon, certain of the pearls being shown in partialcrosssection to show the locking engagement.

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross section showing in detail the specificengagement of the spring wire hook in the divergent opening of thepearl.

Figure 10 is a side elevational View of the earring of my invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, Figure 1 shows theearring of my invention in its proper position on the ear of a wearer.It will be noted that the earring engages the ear directly by means ofthe smooth ornamental pearls located at the two extremities of thecircular spring wire. The spring wire, although extremely light, exertssufficient tension through the pearls fixed on the ends thereof to holdthe earring properly in position upon the ear.

In Figure 2 I show a core member H which comprises a metal tube ofrelatively small diameter which metal tube is pinched at one end. as bya pair of pliers to form the pinched end l2 with the divergent sides l3and I4. I prefer to employ a tubular member as this core member since apinching readily effects the collapse and spreading of the end of thetube to form a core member of the desired divergent shape. The upper andlower surfaces of this pinched end are substantially flat.

The next step in the process is the formation of the base bead upon thecore member and this may be effected by melting glass or similarmaterial to a fluid condition and causing said fluid glass to assume thespherical form It on the pinched end |2 of the core member H.

After the proper shape is imparted to the base material I6 and thisshape may be imparted for example by rotation of the core member H, thebase material is allowed to harden to a permanent set with the core l2embedded as shownin the base material, such as glass, I6.

I next subject the bead IS with the core |2 embedded therein to theaction of a dissolving medium which in the instance shown may be an acidor an acid mix ll. This acid acts to eat away or dissolve the metal corematerial II and this dissolving is indicated by the showing of the corein'solid line in the first instance and in dotted line in the crosssectional view since the core is. dissolved by the acid ll. For the sakeof clarity I have shown the full core member II in the acid bath, but itwill be understood that in practice, it is ordinarily more desirable tocut off the core member II at about the point l8 where the core memberenters the bead Hi.

After the core member I is out off at the point it, its end is againpinched to form the shape shown at l2 in Figure 2 and this core memberis used for the formation of another bead with a similar opening.

In Figure I show an enlarged cross sectional view of the bead I6 withthe opening 20 having the divergent side walls 2| and 22, which openingresults when the pinched end core member- I2 is dissolved out from thebead by means of the dissolving acid mix l7.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken along the line 66 of Figure 5 andspecifically shows the general contour of the upper and lower walls ofthe divergent opening.

It will be noted that these upper walls, namely 23 and 2d are spaced alesser distance from one another than are the walls 2| and 22. Althoughthese walls are shown as substantially parallel, it is not necessarythat they be parallel, but merely that they be such as to prevent thehook subsequently inserted therein from rotating.

In Figure '7 I show a spring wire 26 which may be of spring tensionsteel which has been formed into substantially circular shape asshown.Atone end, the wire has been bent into the hoo form 21. i

As shown in Figure 8, this hook 21 is inserted in the bead H5 in such amanner that the hook,

' tempted rotation of the bead by a user.

which is compressed upon entering the opening 20, spreads in conformitywith the divergent walls 2| and 22 of the opening to securely andpermanently lock the bead I6 in its indicated position on the hook.

The pearls 29 and 30, etc. are then strung on the spring wire 26 andwhen the full number of pearls has been strung thereon, the oppositeextremity of the spring wire, which is in the position 3|, shown in fullline, while the pearls are being strung on the wire, is then curved tothe hook position 32 shown in dotted line, whereupon a bead with adivergent opening similar to the opening in the bead I6 is locked inposition on the hook to complete the earring.

It is to be understood that the bead |6'is the base of the pearl orsimulated pearl, and that subsequent to the time when the core is eatenout of the opening, but before the bead is strung on the earring, acoating of a light reflecting material such as pearl essence is giventhe base I6 so that the simulated pearl is obtained.

Because the bead has been weakened by the formation of the opening withthe divergent walls therein, it is desirable to relieve or reduce anystrains thereon which might be induced by at- Accordingly, I effect arigid joint between the bead I6 having the opening therein and the nextadjacent head 29, by means of a suitable cement 33. This cement effectsa solid and rigid joint between two adjacent beads, and because the wire26 passes through these beads in a circular path, an attempt to rotatethe bead It meets with a braking action by reason of the curved wire 26being pressed against the opening in the bead 29. Accordingly, thestress or strain resulting from an attempted rotation is absorbed by thestronger bead 29. and this materially reduces the likelihood of fractureof the weaker extremity bead It.

In Figure 9, I show in detail the engagement of the hook 2'! with thedivergent side walls 2| and 22 of the opening 26 in the head Hi. It willbe noted that the hook 21 spreads after insertion and engages one of thedivergent side walls such as 2|, while bearing against the other sidewall 22, so that it is secure against withdrawal. Because of the factthat the other two surfaces 23 and 24 (see Fig. 6) of the opening 20 areclosely spaced, the hook 27 cannot rotate in the opening 22.

The walls of the opening 2| and 22 are shown as rough in this figure andthis roughness further acts to prevent the retraction of the hook 21from the opening. Although it is not absolutely essential that the Wallsbe roughened as shown in this figure it has been found that a moresecure grip results therefrom. This rough wall effect is obtained eitherby imparting a rough surface to the core portion |2 of the core memberII, or by the effect of acid I] when eating out the core member i2. Ihave found that even when the walls of the core I2 are apparentlysmooth, the effect of the acid I? in the action shownin Figure 4 eatingout the core member from the bead,

is such that a rough orv slightly irregular surface is imparted to theside walls 2| and 22.

In Figure 10 I show the completed earring comprising the, two finishedpearls 34 and 35 which are located on the extremities of the springwire, which pearls 34 and 35 have openings similar to the opening 20,and described in Figures 5, 6, and 8, and which pearls are securelylocated in permanent position by means of hooks such as 21 and 32. Thepearls or other ornamental objects are strung on the spring wireintermediate these two end pearls 34 and 35. The pearls 34 and 35located on the extremities of the earring are shown as separated fromone another as in the wearing position and it is to be understood thatthe spring wire on which they are positioned exerts a tension so thatthe pearl 34 is pressed in contact with the pearl 35. The spring wire onwhich the pearls are strung is an extremely light base and hence is notobjectionable from the standpoint of weight, which is an importantfactor in an earring. Also, the spring wire permanently retains itsability to impart the grasping pressure.

For the purposes specifically described above, namely to reduce thedanger of fracture of the end pearls 34 and 35, and I may rigidly bindsuch pearls 34 and 35 to the next adjacent pearls by means of a suitablecement 36.

I have given a specific form of carrying out a method for the formationof the earring of my invention but it is to be understood that there aremany modifications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art.For example, the core H may be a solid wire which is soft in natureinstead of being a tube, and it is necessary only that one end thereofbe capable of being shaped to the divergent form shown at l2. Furthersuch core members may be preformed to the desired shape.

It is also within the purview of my invention that the core member beformed of other materials, as for example of plastics, which can bedissolved out from the base l6 by the use of suitable solvents. Ifthermoplastic materials be used for this core, then the base materialiii of the ornamental objects must be such that no high heat is requiredfor its formation. Further the divergent walls 2i and 22 of the openingneed not be of the shape shown, but may be modified considerably. If itis desired that the hook or engaging portion of the base wire be allowedto rotate, then the surfaces 23 and 24 may be spaced accordingly.

Further, although I have described my invention with regard to theformation of an earring carrying pearls, it is to be understood thatother ornamental objects may be employed thereon. I intend, therefore,to be limited not by the specific foregoing description of my invention,but only by the appended claims.

Although I have described my invention with particular reference to themanufacture of an earring, it is to be clearly understood that thelocking construction and method of obtaining the same may be employedfor making other devices in which it is desired to look a similarornamental object on to the end of a wire or similar base. Specifically,for example, I may form an ornamental finger ring or a bracelet bylocking ornamental objects, such as pearls, at the extremities of a basecarrying member such as a wire. Such other objects, as a ring or abracelet, would employ the same locking construction in order to firmlyand permanently secure the ornamental objects on to the end thereof.

By spring wire in the present application I mean any elongated metallicmember of relatively small diameter which is suitable for the purposeset forth, and specifically in the formation of an earring, I have foundpiano wire to be suitable.

I claim:

1. An earring comprising a spring wire, at least one extremity of saidspring wire being formed into a hook, a pearl-like ornamental objectmounted on said hook, a divergent opening in said pearl-like ornamentalobject, said hook being locked in said divergent opening.

2. An earring comprising a spring wire, at least one extremity of saidspring wire being formed into a hook, a pearl-like ornamental objectmounted on said hook, a divergent opening in said pearl-like ornamentalobject, said hook being locked in said divergent opening, said divergentopening being of such shape as to prevent rotation of said pearl-likeornamental object thereon.

3. An earring comprising a spring wire, ornamental objects mounted onsaid spring Wire, the ear contacting portions of said earring consistingof two ornamental objects adapted to press against and engage an earlobe, openings in said two ornamental objects, said openings having atleast one divergent wall, the extremities of said spring wire beingformed into hook shape, said openings in said ornamental objects beingpositively engaged by said hook shape extremities of said spring wire.

4. A ring comprising a curved elongated member at least one end of saidelongated member being formed into a hook and an ornamental objectlocked on at least one extremity of said elongated member, saidornamental object having a divergent opening, said hook being locked insaid divergent opening.

5. A bracelet comprising a curved elongated member at least one end ofsaid elongated member being formed into a hook and an ornamental objectlocked on at least one extremity of said elongated member, saidornamental object having a divergent opening, said hook being locked insaid divergent opening.

, 6. An article of decorative nature comprising a curved elongated basemember and a plurality of ornamental objects mounted thereon, anornamental object mounted on at least one extremity of said elongatedbase member, said last named ornamental object having an opening locatedtherein adapted to engage the extremity of said elongated base member inlocked relation, said last named ornamental object being rigidly joinedto the next adjacent ornamental object.

MAXIMILIAN C. MEYER.

